Nick Wilson plays at the Cotton States Golf Tournament during the qualifying rounds on Wednesday at Bayou DeSiard Country Club.

Written by

Jerit Roser
jroser@thenewsstar.com

This morning brings a new day both literally and figuratively at Bayou DeSiard Country Club, and several golfers couldn't be much happier to see it.

Riley Pumphrey was as notable as any player among a large group that entered Wednesday with their backs against the wall after opening the W.E. Cole Cotton States Amateur Invitational's two-day qualifying rounds relatively slowly Tuesday.

But the defending champion and many of his fellow competitors elevated their games enough to secure themselves among the 64 sought-after spots in match play, which begins at 8 a.m. ...